District 2 Newsletter

Hello Neighbors,

The next City Council meeting is Monday, May 7 at 5:00 pm in the Vincent Griego Chambers, basement level of City Hall: Agenda.

Legislation of Interest

R-18-21 Medical Aid in Dying (Gibson, Benton) is on the agenda for Monday’s Council meeting. This resolution urges the state legislature to support and enact “Medical Aid in Dying,” also known as End of Life Options Act. This allows terminally ill, mentally capable adults to request and receive medication they can self-administer to bring about a peaceful death should their suffering become unbearable. Every person should be able to make end-of-life decisions that are consistent with their values and best for them and their families. Medical aid in dying has majority bipartisan support among American voters, with a 2017 Gallup poll showing support at 73%. This has been practiced for 20 years in Oregon without a single instance of abuse, coercion or disciplinary action of a provider. In states where medical aid in dying is authorized, studies show that end-of-life care improves overall, even for people who don’t seek it. It is entirely optional. No individual, including doctors or other healthcare professionals, has to participate.

FY 19 Operating Budget R-18-24 (Jones, by request): The Mayor has submitted his proposed budget to City Council. The City Council will formally introduce the budget at Monday’s meeting. The first Committee of the Whole (COW or “the budget committee”) hearing was this week. Additional hearings are scheduled for Thursday, May 10 and Thursday, May 17. Councilor Trudy Jones is the Chair, and COW hearings are held in the Vincent Griego Chambers at 5:00 pm. I plan to be very active in reviewing (and amending as necessary) this first budget from the Keller administration. Please review it yourself and let me know your thoughts!

R-18-18 Intent to Adopt 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (Benton, Davis) will be heard at the Finance & Government Operations (FGO) Committee meeting on May 14. This is a resolution to take the first steps toward adopting the 2018 International Energy Conservation Code (IECC) for the City. I previously was the sponsor of the very advanced and easy to use Albuquerque Energy Conservation Code, along with now-US Senator Martin Heinrich. The AECC was unfortunately repealed in 2010 after a change of Administration and Council, at which time the City reverted to the now-outdated 2009 IECC. My intention is that the much more up-to-date 2018 code will help Albuquerque once again be a leader in energy efficiency for the benefit of all building owners, businesses, residents and other occupants.

Projects

Rio Grande and Candelaria Roundabout: The final agreement with NM Dept. of Transportation has been signed. I am cautiously optimistic that the project will go out for construction bids late this year.

Santa Barbara Martineztown Pedestrian Improvements: The study is complete and the report and recommendations have been finalized and posted online. I am planning a “participatory budgeting” process to get input from the neighborhood to help the City prioritize the first actual projects.